Backpack Bonanza brings smiling faces to kids

The Backpack Bonanza is back and better than ever.
The Board of Evangelism at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Perryville will host the annual event on Saturday, July 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Immanuel Lutheran School gymnasium.
“What I like about this event is that we are able to help out families and children in our community,” Event chair Amy Yamnitz said.
The event supplies qualifying Perry County students in grades K-12 with backpacks full of school supplies to ready them for the new school year. It is the board’s goal to supply at least 150-200 Perry County children with school supplies, haircuts, health checks, a $40 shoe voucher, and other services.
A large portion of support with supplies comes from local businesses and individuals with monetary donations and grant.
“Businesses, as well as generous individuals, numerous volunteers, and local churches, provide tremendous help in supplementing our grant from the Youth Tax Board to make this event successful year after year.” Yamnitz said. “Our hope is that beginning the new school year with needed supplies, new shoes and a new haircut will provide the students with a positive attitude and inspire them to be successful in the classroom. We also feel that this outreach will lessen the financial burden that families will have to endure to send their children back to school.”

The East Missouri Action Agency ran the event for many years before it was taken over by Immanuel Lutheran, but the EMAA still helps with the event.
There is no qualifications that need to be met by families wishing to participate must register their students for the Backpack Bonanza with the East Missouri Action Agency by calling 547-2014.
The EMAA is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8a.m. to 5 p.m.
Yamnitz hopes that people will sign up as soon as possible.
“Families must have an appointment to attend,” Yamnitz said. “It is still required as in past years. There will be no walk-up appointments for the event.”
However, the event goes, Yamnitz is excited to provide this service to the students of the community.
“We love to see the smiling faces of each children during this event,” Yamnitz said. “That is the real purpose of the event, to get kids excited to go back to school.”